1. the advocation of social, political, and all other rights of women equal to those of men.
2. an organized movement for the attainment of such rights for women.

A response to sexism, which is also known as an institutional barrier within a society that systematically prohibits women from gaining equal status to men.

While humanism may be the equal rights for both men and women, feminism is also significant because women have been historically and cross-culturally subject to being of lesser status than men. Because patriarchy is such a prevalent form of social organization, and because by its very definition it relegates women as less than equal when compared to men, as long as patriarchy exists, feminism exists by necessity.

COMMON MYTHS:
1. Men can't be feminists.
FALSE. Both men and women can support equal rights for women.
2. All feminists are men-haters.
FALSE. Feminists do not necessarily hate men; in fact, most don't.

Feminism exists because women are systematically and institutionally prejudiced against; it is not the result of one person's or one generation's choices, but because society has set women up to equate to less from the start.

Feminism is the movement of women that attempts to break down the barriers of gender inequality. It is thought to have began in the late 19th century with the womens campaign for the vote. It began to pick up steam in the again in the sixties with the arival of the pill but began to fizzle out in the 90s.
It is now largely regarded (particularly by ignorant skinheaded men) as obselete. "Ya vote, ya work, Wha' ya monin' 'bout ya freaky lesbo" is the general thought among this crowd.
True women can vote but that is hardly the surface of gender inequality. Women CAN work but are also expected to look after the kids and do the housework. Equal? I don't think so. Women are also statistically paid less for doing the same jobs as men and hold relatively few high powered jobs compared to men.
Sure women have made progress but there are still major inequalties in society that need to be solved.
"Why do I care?" I hear those of you who are male say. Well, you have mothers, sisters, wives etc. Wouldnt you be furious if they were disadvantaged because they were black or gay or disabled? Of course you would! So why is it ok for this to happen to your family because they are women?
You do not have to hate men or burn bras or be a lesbian to be a feminist. You just have to believe in equality.
Feminists (including men) kick ass!

A movement created to promote equal rights of men and women alike, simply put.

Many definitions try to degrade this notion by stating that it has backfired and turned into a reason for hating men. This is not the case. The reason people would think this is because in today's society many men are still raised on the notion that women are inferior and must be oppressed. They therefore promote hate against equal rights between men and women and try to degrade it in any way possible. Note that not all men are like this, but the majority are.

There will always be sexist men. That is the unfortunate truth.

Feminism is a notion to equalize the fields and make people realize that men and women are equal in every way.

Feminism does NOT support hate against men, it merely states that men are NOT SUPERIOR TO WOMEN. Get it in your goddamn heads, people.

Judging by what it does feminism is a movement that seeks superior rights and privileges for women while hiding under the guise of "equality"

Feminists tend to claim that their movement is about "equality" and often use the dictionary definition as proof. But the thing is that what the dictionary says and what feminism does are two completely different things. Actions speak louder than words, therefore feminism should be judge by what it does instead of by what the book says. And through its actions the feminist movement has constantly shows that it isn't about equality, but is actually about female supremacy and misandry - skewed the system in women's favor, seeking superior rights & privileges for women, demonizing men & boys etc.. It is very obvious that "equality" is nothing more than a mask that the feminist movement uses to conceal its female supremacist and anti-male agendas.